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“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for

his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who

called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

1 Peter 2:9

A People - Chosen Race

- Royal Priests - Holy Nation

Exodus 19:5-6

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my

covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy

nation”

Revelation 5:9-10

9b …and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and

nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and

they shall reign on the earth.”

Ephesians 2:8-9a

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may

boast.

“Who am I? I am chosen. I do not know why. It was nothing in me of value above other humans. I did not earn it or merit it, or meet any conditions to get it. It happened before I was born. I stand in awe of it. I tremble with joy at it. I bow and accept it. I long to be faithful to its purpose.”

John Piper

Revelation 1:5-6

5 “and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father…”

Hebrews 4:14-16

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

“We need never shout across the spaces to an absent God. He is nearer than our own soul, closer than our most secret thoughts."

A.W. Tozer

1 Peter 2:5

“...you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through

Jesus Christ.”

1. Our bodies, as "living sacrifices" - Rom 12:1-2 2. A lifestyle characterized by sacrificial love - Eph 5:1-2 3. Praise and thanksgiving, which we do in prayer and song - Heb 13:15 4. Doing good and sharing with others - Heb 13:16; Php 4:15-18 5. Even in the way we die for the Lord! - Php 1:20; 2:17; 2Ti 4:6

holy nation = ἅγιος hágios

Thayer: properly, different (unlike), other ("otherness"), holy; for the believer, means "likeness of nature with the Lord" because "different from the world."

Leviticus 20:26

26 “You shall be holy to me, for I the LORD am holy and have separated you from the peoples, that you should be mine.”

“Though the world is a fallen world, it was the will of God still to have a portion in it, and therefore he chose out some and set them apart for himself.”

Jonathan Edwards

Matthew 7:13-14

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

1 John 2:15

15 “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

“No man should desire to be happy who is not at the same time holy. He should spend his efforts in seeking to know and do the will of God, leaving to Christ the matter of how happy he shall be.”

A.W. Tozer

Romans 12:2

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind”

1 Thessalonians 4:7

“For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.”

“A holy life will make the deepest impression. Lighthouses blow no horns, they just shine.”

D.L. Moody

A Possession - God’s Treasure

- Of High Worth - Not Our Own

Exodus 19:5

“ Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my

treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine.”

“The elect church is the favorite of heaven, the treasure of Christ, the crown of His head, the bracelet of His arm, the breastplate of His heart, the very center and core of His love.”

- C. H. Spurgeon

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that

whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

1 Corinthians 6:19b-20a “19…You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price…”

“There is no such thing as a private life, or a place to hide in this world, for a man or woman who is intimately aware of and shares in the sufferings of Jesus Christ. God divides the private life of His saints and makes it a highway for the world on one hand and for Himself on the other.” Oswald Chambers

“We are not sanctified for ourselves. We are called into intimacy with the gospel, and things happen that appear to have nothing to do with us. But God is getting us into fellowship with Himself. Let Him have His way.” Oswald Chambers

A Proclamation - Worship

- Witness - Woefully Undeserving

1 Peter 2:9

9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

“All of God's blessings with which he favors us are intended for this end, that his glory may be proclaimed by us.”

- John Calvin

Romans 1:21–23 “21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.”

Acts 1:8

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to

the end of the earth.”

“The purpose of the church is to serve

as an outpost of Jesus’ kingdom that

makes the invisible kingdom visible

by the grace of God and power of the

Holy Spirit.”

- Mark Driscoll

2 Timothy 1:8-9

8 “Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me

his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,

9 who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and

grace”

“Now, remember, you will never know the fullness of Christ until you know the emptiness of yourself.”

- C. H. Spurgeon

A People - Chosen Race - Royal Priests - Holy Nation

A Possession - God’s Treasure - Of High Worth - Not Our Own

A Proclamation - Worship - Witness - Woefully Undeserving

“Instead of being the church, we have fallen into merely doing church, and far too often our doing is disconnected from being.”

Jonathan K. Dodson